Possible witness could help Donald Trump in Michael Cohen’s testimony.
During Michael Cohen’s testimony in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial on Tuesday, a pivotal moment unfolded as the focus shifted to a series of 2018 exchanges between Cohen and lawyer Robert Costello.
Cohen revealed that he had spoken to Costello about an FBI raid and investigation that eventually led to his guilty plea to federal charges later that year.
Displayed to the jury were emails that painted Costello as a crucial “back channel of communications” for Cohen during the investigation, acting as a conduit to relay messages to then-President Trump through his attorney Rudy Giuliani.
“The back channel was Bob Costello to Rudy to President Trump,” Cohen testified on the stand, emphasizing the significance of Costello’s role in their communication.
In one email excerpted in court, Costello reassured Cohen, saying, “Sleep well tonight. You have friends in high places,” after recounting a discussion he claimed to have had with Giuliani.
As Cohen testified, Costello received a call from Trump’s lead attorney, Todd Blanche. Speculation arose whether Costello would be called as a witness, to which Costello responded with uncertainty, stating, “I had a brief conversation with Todd Blanche, but there was no commitment,” and explaining that the conversation did not pertain to witness preparation. Despite the vague nature of the call, Costello expressed a belief that he might be summoned by the defense team.
On March 20, 2023, Costello appeared before the grand jury at the request of Trump’s legal team. His testimony aimed to undermine Cohen’s credibility, with Costello later informing reporters that Cohen had made conflicting statements in comparison to what he had communicated during their interactions.
Subsequently, Trump faced indictment later that month, facing 34 counts of falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from reimbursements made to Cohen for a payment intended to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged a sexual encounter with Trump. Trump entered a plea of not guilty, vehemently denying any involvement with Daniels. Trump has maintained that the prosecution orchestrated by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was politically motivated.
Costello is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee’s Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. He expressed his intent to introduce exculpatory evidence that he was unable to present before the grand jury in 2023. However, Costello did not disclose the specifics of the information he plans to share with Congress.
